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Potin Unit Curved Bull / Holman B2
| Issuer | Cantii tribe (Celtic Britain) |
|---|---|
| Year | 115 BC - 100 BC |
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| Currency | Stater |
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| Obverse description | Schematised head of Apollo facing left (or right on certain varieties), rendered in the Celtic linear tradition with a bold central vertical line bisecting the neck. The eye is depicted as a plain ring without a central pellet, characteristic of the Holman B2 classification. The facial features are abstracted into a series of curved and straight lines, reflecting the progressive degeneration of the Massaliote prototype across successive die generations. The overall style ranges from well-executed on early dies to increasingly crude and schematic on later issues. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A butting bull rendered in schematic Celtic style, depicted facing right or left depending on the variety, with the body composed of bold curved and straight lines. The forelegs are depicted apart at the top, while the rear legs may be joined or separated; a wavy tail rises above the hindquarters and may resolve into distinct crescents on some dies. A ground or exergual line runs beneath the figure. The design derives ultimately from the Massaliote prototype but becomes progressively abstracted across later die generations, with the tail ornament occasionally echoing the MA legend of the prototype coinage. |
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| Additional information |
Potin coinage among the Kentish Cantii derives ultimately from Massaliote bronze issues, transmitted through Gaulish intermediaries before being adopted and locally cast — not struck — in Britain. The Holman B2 classification distinguishes a specific casting variant within the broader "curved bull" series, reflecting the tribal practice of producing coins in clay molds rather than with dies, which is why no two examples are precisely identical in weight or outline.
These are among the earliest coins produced in Britain, predating Caesar's invasions by several decades and any Roman administrative influence entirely.